John Garbett, 82, was a nurse at St Helena Hospice on the day it opened until he retired in 1998.

I started at St Helena Hospice on my birthday in early May 1985, so I couldn’t forget that! We had two weeks’ induction with Dr E and then we opened to our first patient.

The building was lovely, homely, very different from what I was used to. Coming from a busy 40 bed surgical ward at Severalls Hospital to a 15 bedded unit, for the first month I was wondering what I was doing there because it was so quiet.

But then it started; we soon got more patients in and we just got on with it.

Most of us didn’t know what we were doing at first because it was a new branch of nursing for us. I didn’t know a thing about palliative care. I felt a bit out of it but I soon learned. I never stopped learning, every day something new.

I hoped the new hospice would achieve the whole holistic approach for families and patients, and it certainly lived up to my expectations. Love and care, that’s what I was aiming for, and I think we did bring comfort and relief for families for their loved ones.

I remember the first patient vividly, Lisa. Illness can affect anyone at any age. I always dreaded somebody I knew coming in to stay at the Hospice. It happened twice, that hits home.

There is an aurora about the place. I don’t think people know what it is until they walk in there. Someone said to me once ‘how can you work in a place like that?’ I said it’s full of laughter and fun.

It’s there, it just happens. It was the best thing I ever did. It was lovely, like a family.

Fundraising

SinglePoint

24 hour advice: SinglePoint 01206 890 360

SinglePoint is a 24/7 advice and support helpline which helps to coordinate an individual’s care with the hospice. SinglePoint also works alongside other healthcare services such as GPs, Community Nurses or Specialists.

The Hospice

To contact a patient at The Hospice please find the address and telephone number below. Phone calls can be made to patients at any time of the day or week. You can contact Inpatient Services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Finance Team

Volunteer Services Team

The Volunteer Services team can be contacted Monday to Friday between 9.00am and 5.00pm on 01206 931 466

Media Enquiries

For all media enquiries between 9.00am and 5.00pm, Monday to Friday, please phone the Marketing and Communications team directly on 01206 931 464

Patient Referrals

If you, or a member of your family has a life-limiting illness and would like to discuss whether St Helena care services can help, you can contact the SinglePoint telephone service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 01206 890 360

Bereavement Support

To contact the St Helena Bereavement Support team please telephone the bereavement helpline: 01206 984 274, Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm

Learning and Development Centre

The Learning and Development Centre is open Monday to Friday between 9.00am and 5.00pm and can be contacted on 01206 851 560

Service User Group

For more information on the St Helena Service User Group please contact Chair, Ken Aldred on 01206 751 397

Facilities Hire Enquiries

01206 851560

Lottery

To contact the Lottery team please call 0800 285 1390 or visit the website here, Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.

If you would like to write to or visit the Lottery team, the address is: Your Hospice Lottery Office
Unit 6 The Atrium, Phoenix Square, Wyncolls Road, Colchester
CO4 9AS.

Comment, compliment or complaint

Feedback, comments and complaints about St Helena care and support services may be made verbally or in writing to: Director of Care, St Helena, Myland Hall, Barncroft Close, Highwoods, Colchester, CO4 9JU. To speak to a member of our team, call 01206 845 566